Actors come and go on soap operas but there are some faces without whom the show just
wouldn’t be the same.
Some of these stars have been on soaps since their inception, which means their characters
have spent decades on the canvas.
When it comes to the Bold and the Beautiful, John McCook and Katherine Kelly Lang are the
only two remaining original cast members who have been there from the beginning.
In this video, we’re taking a look at their incredible journeys on the Bold and the Beautiful
and let’s also take a look at some other longest running cast members of the show.
Before joining the Bold and the Beautiful as patriarch Eric Forrester, John McCook was
already famous as a younger leading man, Lance Prentiss, on B&B’s sister soap The Young
and the Restless.
That’s why the actor was on the fence about taking on a more mature role.
He would be playing the father of Ronn Moss, who is only seven years younger than him.
But that wouldn’t be the strangest thing to happen on a soap opera.
As it happens, McCook had to dye his hair with gray streaks to appear older when the
show began in 1987.
The actor had played Lance Prentiss on Y&R for five years and exited on good terms, so
he agreed to meet Bill Bell just so he wouldn’t come off as rude.
McCook became one of the first two cast members to be hired on the show.
The other cast member was Susan Flannery, for whom Bell had written a storyline while
she was playing Laura Horton on Days of Our Lives.
And thus began the legacy of the Forrester family.
The significance of his tenure at the Bold and the Beautiful is not lost on McCook.
Last year, celebrating his 34th anniversary on the show, the Daytime Emmy Award winner
said, “Being on this show and, to back up even further, to be able to be an actor all
these years and be able to make a living at it…
It’s such a cliché to say it’s been a blessing, but it has.
The very definition of a stunningly good job in show business is a long run on Broadway,
a TV series or a soap opera.”
His co-star Katherine Kelly Lang would definitely agree with him on this.
For 35 years, Brooke Logan Forrester has captivated audiences with her bold moves, questionable
life decisions and romantic choices.
Talking to Michael Fairman TV in 2020, the actress expressed her gratitude towards her
day one fans without whom there would be no show.
She said, “It’s just been an honor to be on the show, and remain on the show for
so long as one of the original characters.
My heart really goes out to the fans, because honestly, so many of them tell me they’ve
watched from day one.”
Talking about her long tenure on the show, she continued, “what matters is when you
come on a show that your heart is in it 100%, and you come to your job and you try your
hardest.
That to me is what matters and makes you an honorable person.
I’m very flattered that I’ve been on The Bold and the Beautiful for as long as I have.”
In the same interview, Lang shared that she was lucky to work closely with Susan Flannery,
who had a 25 year run on the Bold and the Beautiful as the Forrester matriarch Stephanie
Forrester.
Brooke and Stephanie had the most epic feud on the show which lasted over two decades.
Stephanie died in 2012 but not before making amends with Brooke.
One of the core four of the Bold and the Beautiful, Ronn Moss remains one of the longest serving
actors on the Bold and the Beautiful, having originated the role of Ridge Forrester in
1987.
At the time of his departure from the soap in 2012, rumors spread that it was because
of failed salary negotiations.
But there was a lot more to it than that.
In his later interviews, Ronn revealed that his degrading memory was one of the reasons
for his decision.
Now let’s take a look at the rest of the long serving cast members on the show.
Donna Logan was introduced to the canvas when the Bold and the Beautiful began in 1987 but
it was then portrayed by Carrie Mitchum.
Current portrayer Jennifer Garies joined the cast in 2006 and has been playing the character
ever since.
Her onscreen sister, Heather Tom, followed a year later in 2007.
Leading lady Jacqueline MacInnes Wood took on the role of Steffy Forrester in 2008.
After a hiatus of two years, she returned in a regular capacity in 2015.
Don Diamont was offered the role of Bill Spencer in 2009 right after he was fired from the
Young and the Restless.
The same year, Aaron D. Spears began appearing as Justin Barber.
Scott Clifton is also among the longest serving cast members on the show.
He has been playing Liam Spencer since 2010.